Noteworthy

Published 10:45 pm, Thursday, July 9, 2015

Photo: Steffen Schmidt

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FILE - In this May 29, 2011 file photo FIFA official Chuck Blazer leaves the FIFA headquarters in Zurich, Switzerland. As it was announced Thursday, July 9, 2015 FIFA's ethics committee has expelled former executive committee member Blazer from football for bribery and other corruption. (Steffen Schmidt/Keystone via AP, File) ORG XMIT: LGL101 less

FILE - In this May 29, 2011 file photo FIFA official Chuck Blazer leaves the FIFA headquarters in Zurich, Switzerland. As it was announced Thursday, July 9, 2015 FIFA's ethics committee has expelled former ... more

He was a cooperating witness with United States federal agencies since 2011 after his tax affairs were investigated.

Blazer served on FIFA's executive panel for 16 years until 2013.

Boxing: An autopsy has confirmed that former middleweight contender Tony Ayala Jr. died of a heroin overdose. The report also cited an enlarged heart as another significant finding. San Antonio police had suspected a heroin overdose killed the 52-year-old former middleweight contender, whose body was found at his family's gym on May 12. Heroin and a syringe were found next to his body. According to officials, a woman close to Ayala told police that she and Ayala had quarreled in a house they shared the night before his body was found. Police arrived to find the woman weeping over his body.

College basketball: Memphis leading scorer Austin Nichols, a 6-foot-9 forward, has been granted a conditional release. Athletic director Tom Bowen didn't indicate the conditions of Nichols' release regarding whether there were any schools he couldn't consider.

College football: Alabama and Florida State will meet in the 2017 season opener at Atlanta's new stadium. The matchup in the Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game was announced Thursday. The teams will meet on Sept. 2, 2017. It will be the first regular-season college game at the $1.4 billion stadium, which will be home to the NFL's Falcons and Major League Soccer's Atlanta United FC.